OMAHA, Neb. – Drake volleyball concluded a two-day stint at the MH Hospitality Omaha Challenge on Friday evening with a 3-0 loss to Oklahoma. Despite a lopsided final match score, the Bulldogs lost each set by four points or less in a tightly contested tilt.
The first set started with some back-and-forth volleyball as the two teams worked their way to a 13-13 stalemate. The Sooners grabbed the first bit of momentum with a 3-0 run before an
Addison Beagle kill, two
Macy Daufeldt service aces, and an Oklahoma (2-1) error swung things back in Drake's direction. That 4-0 rally gave the Bulldogs their first lead of the set.
The topsy-turvy first period continued with another lengthy spurt, this time back in favor of Oklahoma. The Sooners' 6-0 run gave them a five-point advantage which Drake (1-4) could not overcome. Oklahoma took the opening set 25-21.
Drake found their footing a little earlier in the second set, exploding out to an 8-4 advantage. Oklahoma had yet another answer, however, with a 6-1 run of their own to reclaim the lead. Blows continued to be traded until Drake earned a late lead at 22-21 after three consecutive Sooner mishaps. The Bulldogs could not close the door, though, as a 4-0 Oklahoma rally gave the Sooners a 25-22 set victory.
Oklahoma seemed to have a chokehold on the third set, building a commanding 11-4 lead. Head coach
Darrin McBroom's Bulldogs refused to go away quietly, though, as they battled back to knot the score at 14-all. The two teams proceeded to swap scores until the homestretch when Oklahoma rattled off three in-a-row to secure the set, 25-22, and the match, 3-0.
Megan Witte had 10 kills to lead the Bulldog offense. She was joined atop the stat sheet by
Addison Beagle with 24 assists and Daufeldt with three aces. Defensively, Beagle had a match-high 18 digs while true freshman
Bliss Beck tied for the match-best with four blocks.
Drake's challenging non-conference schedule will continue next weekend with a trip to America's southland. The Bulldogs are set for three matches at the Ole Miss Invitational in Oxford, Miss. (Sep. 13-14) including bouts versus FGCU, Little Rock, and the host Rebels.
